Conditions: Degenerative Spine

Condition

Degenerative Spine disease is a disorder where you lose parts of normal functionality of the spine. Aging, infection, tumors, muscle strains, or arthritis can contribute to this disease as well.

Symptoms

It is difficult to find common symptoms among those affected by degenerative disc disease. Due to the compression of different nerve roots, it causes different pain in areas including the back, leg, neck, or arm.

Diagnosis

A doctor or physician can review your medical history and do a complete physical exam. Once you undergo the physical (looking for flexibility, range of motion, and other factors that would indicate nerve damage), x-rays can be used to see if degenerative disc disease is affecting you. The presence of bone spurs can be seen on the x-ray causing a decreased space for the nerve roots. The roots exit through the neural foramen and is then vulnerable to compression. Doctors can also use MRIs or CT scans to see if any changes have occurred. Usually, a CT scan is used to see any spine movement.

Treatment

There are several options when it comes to treatment for degenerative spine conditions. For those seeking nonsurgical options and there is no evidence of nerve root compression or muscle weakness, a physician may prescribe medication to help with pain. Resting and physical therapy could also be added to the treatment plan.

Surgery is a final option if no other treatment has worked. Decompression of the spinal cord with a discectomy and fusion would be done to take out the disc and then the remaining vertebrae would be fused together for stabilization of the spine.

Find degenerative spine pain treatment in the New York area with help from Hudson Spine and Pain Medicine.